Filters?! are you serious?

PrintDriver · 05-30-2007, 02:08 PM

It seems to be all the rage to 'disguise' low-grade photos using a variety of filters. Sometimes though you may be working at a size where you have no choice even if you had professional grade 8" color transies available for scanning.

The trick with filters is don't make it a 1-click thing. Be artistic about it. Research customized filters and use various combinations. Play with color. Play with blurs. Play with converting first then upsizing rather than upsizing first. You never know...

The exercise is a valid one. Just try not to make a habit of it.

cornfed · 05-30-2007, 02:16 PM

I agree. Make the most of it. Perhaps it's really a lesson on learning how to tastefully use filters!

seamas · 05-30-2007, 02:18 PM

Yes, it's a valid assignment.
Once out in the "real world" you'll find at times you'll be given an unsuitable photo thet the client demands that you use and you will have to find a way to "polish a turd".
Think about isolating varous elements on the photo and what is the best way to teak them.
Get arty with it.

Quirk · 05-30-2007, 02:23 PM

Ah, very true. I am always quick to pick out the negatives of each assignment, and I know that this is going to happen frequently.

I'll play around with them and see what I can come up with.. but I will be making a back up design.

cornfed · 05-30-2007, 02:30 PM

I keep envisioning something warholish wherein you could use the filters, but not really have to sacrifice resolution.

Tsmalldon · 05-30-2007, 02:35 PM

I have to "Polish Turds" on a daily basis
sometimes with the use of a turd polishing filter

We also had a similiar assignment in school.

CkretAjint · 05-30-2007, 02:56 PM

Could you bluff it and print it at 200 or 150 dpi? Might give you a few inches to kick around with... Not the BEST idea in the world, but sometimes you have to do what you have to do with crummy images.

**Typically** · 05-30-2007, 03:02 PM

have you looked into blow up over at http://www.alienskin.com/? i haven't used it but it looks like it would help you out in your situation. i think you can get a demo version of it. can't hurt to give it a shot.

i would think about doing a collage or using the pics to make a larger image. just something to kick around =]

CkretAjint · 05-30-2007, 03:06 PM

Originally posted by Typically

have you looked into blow up over at http://www.alienskin.com?

There is also PixelScale out there... We use it at work all the time for larger posters and banners. Works rather well for what it does.

carter the artist · 05-30-2007, 03:20 PM

It's not the filters that cheapens a design, it's the cheap designer using the filters.

pmkcreations · 05-30-2007, 03:39 PM

I agree with everyone, this is a necessary evil.

I work with someone who prints large format stuff. Alot of the stuff comes in as "web" graphics and needs to fill a banner. Sometimes you can say Garbage-In/Garbage-Out, but other times you got to work with what little you have.

**Typically** · 05-30-2007, 03:55 PM

evil shenagins!

carter the artist · 05-30-2007, 04:33 PM

I'm gonna pistol whip the next person to say shenanagins!!

PrintDriver · 05-30-2007, 04:36 PM

Blow Up, PixelScale, Genuine Fractals, Photoshop's newer Interpolation engines (Bipolar smoother and sharper) are all about the same. GIGO applies. They all work relatively well at smaller sizes given a relatively good though low res image to work with. It's when you want to go to poster size or above that you gotta give it up. 4" to 8" you have a chance. 4" to 8'? Not so much.

Filters?! are you serious?

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